Three individuals have received life sentences for their roles in a deadly conspiracy to commit murder for hire, according to recent court proceedings in Mobile, Alabama. John Fitzgerald McCarroll, Jr., Darrius Dwayne Rowser, and Lyteria Isheeia Hollis were convicted for their involvement in a scheme aimed at killing a person in retaliation for a previous murder, as disclosed in court documents from the federal jury trial held last October.
The plot's intricacies were laid out during the trial. McCarroll orchestrated the plan, hiring shooters to target an individual, leading to multiple nightclub shootings. Notably, in September 2022, Reginald Dennis Alan Fluker, using a firearm provided by McCarroll, mistakenly shot the wrong person inside Bank Nightlife club, resulting in the victim's death. Following this, Hollis ensured payments were made to Fluker, who received a 30-year sentence after pleading guilty to the conspiracy.
In a separate incident at Paparazzi Lounge, Rowser employed an illegally modified machine gun, again supplied by McCarroll, to target the intended victim. The attack instead harmed four other individuals, one of whom became paralyzed, after which Rowser boasted about the act on Instagram. A related aspect of the conspiracy saw Rowser and others, under McCarroll’s direction, stealing cars in Mississippi to facilitate surveillance. This led to an attempted carjacking where Rowser killed a victim. One co-conspirator, Karmelo Cortez Morris Derks, was subsequently charged for his involvement and traveled back to Mobile with Rowser, destroying the stolen vehicle used in the crime.
Further criminal actions unfolded when McCarroll directed Rowser and others to purchase a GPS tracker at a Mobile Walmart to track the target’s car. During this operation, they fired machine guns inside the store, injuring two people. Jimaurice Pierce, involved in this shooting, also pleaded guilty to the murder-for-hire conspiracy.
Efforts by McCarroll to conceal evidence were revealed as he instructed Hollis to hide a weapon linked to the conspiracy. Agents later retrieved this gun from Hollis’s residence. McCarroll also attempted to falsify testimony by involving Fluker in a sham affidavit to secure bail.
Post-conviction, Hollis confessed to wire fraud, having deceitfully obtained nearly $20,000 in PPP loans by fabricating a hair-styling business during the pandemic.
During the sentencing, victims presented impact statements, emphasizing the repercussions of the defendants’ actions. In response, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer underscored the importance of these accounts. McCarroll, Rowser, and Hollis received life sentences, while Derks was sentenced to 84 months, facing additional legal proceedings in Mississippi. The court mandated nearly $1.3 million in restitution to victims, with additional sums ordered for financial misconduct linked to the SBA and vehicle theft.
The sentencing underscores a collective law enforcement effort to prosecute violent crimes. "These criminals used illegal machineguns to murder, maim, and endanger innocent lives in our community," stated Sean P. Costello, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. United States Attorney Costello extended commendations to the law enforcement agents involved, noting their dedication. "Thanks to the relentless work and dedication of the federal agents, police, and prosecutors, these three will never be in a position to terrorize or harm anyone else."
Jason Stankiewicz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Nashville Field Division, reflected on collaborative law enforcement successes, mentioning, "Our ability to protect American families, increases by having a comprehensive violent crime reduction strategy in place."
Investigations spanned several agencies, including the FBI, ATF, Mobile Police Department, and D’Iberville Police Department. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller, Gaillard Ladd, and Kasee Heisterhagen.